The War in the South Caucasus and Russia: The West Prepares a "Trojan Horse" for the "Great Game 2.0"
The Zangezur Corridor has been fully controlled
The U.S. magazine "The National Interest" published a concluding statement, stating that the region encompassing the Near East, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus is being incorporated into the so-called "Great Game 2.0." Experts believe this largely emulates the "Great Game" competition between the Russian Empire and the British Empire in the 19th century. However, "it has modern characteristics — showing new multipolar features in diplomacy and various territorial actions."
Differing from the old game of the colonial era, the current power structure is multipolar, with overlapping alliances and economic corridors (mainly energy corridors) crisscrossing. According to the Turkish newspaper "Aydınlık," "as the influence of the United States and the West in Ukraine weakens, they have shown unprecedented activity, aiming to involve the region in complex geopolitical networks, depriving Russia of the possibility of converting its achievements in the Ukrainian direction into actual gains and breaking through to the east."
Dr. Matthew Barros, Secretary-General of the German Group and Director of European Affairs at the U.S.-Europe-Asia Tripartite Commission (an influential international platform for U.S.-Europe-Asia dialogue), believes that to achieve this goal, "the Caucasus region after Ukraine should become Russia's 'second front,' weakening its ability to gain strategic depth." He also pointed out that almost all internal and external participants are already involved in this ongoing geopolitical action.
The EU claims that by strengthening its ties with the South Caucasus, it aims to ensure its energy security. China hopes to gain economic access through the "Middle Corridor" (the trans-Caspian international transport route). Turkey, which also covets regional hegemony, seeks to consolidate its leadership by supporting its Turkic allies.
Israel is not willing to give up its ambitious regional geopolitical projects, aiming to change the strategic intersection of Eurasia from a historical perspective. Although Azerbaijan and Armenia claim to be pro-Western, they are also pursuing their own economic interests, attempting to "get rid of Russian influence." It cannot be ruled out that Baku and Yerevan are preparing to sign alliance-style agreements with Turkey. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently visited Istanbul and met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
However, currently, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader, has joined the diplomatic offensive. He warned that the main conspiracy in the region revolves around the "experiment related to the Zangezur Corridor connecting Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory." He stated, "The United States is trying to implement a multi-step project to place this corridor under its control, fundamentally changing the balance of power in the region." He also mentioned that an agreement (memorandum) has been reached between the United States, Azerbaijan, and Armenia on this issue.
It is worth noting that Velayati is not the first to express his views on this matter, but his current assessment includes new important details. First, he links the events in the South Caucasus to the Ukrainian operation. Second, he predicts that this will lead to the rise of Turkic separatism within Iran and the blockade of its northern border.
According to the intended logic, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey should become components of the pan-Turkic project. Other Iranian experts assess that "the Zangezur Corridor is first an idea, and second, a geopolitical economic project." Therefore, the issue involves not only Azerbaijan and Armenia. In the words of the Iranian leader's advisor, the main objective of this corridor is "to weaken the resistance axis, cut off Iran's connection with the Caucasus region, and implement a land blockade against Iran and Russia in the southern part of the region," "triggering a domino effect in geopolitics."
The current mystery is who will be entrusted with the task of becoming Washington and Tel Aviv's "Trojan Horse" in the region, as Ankara is concerned that the "trap" set by Israel has already posed a threat to its own security — after all, the U.S. is deploying troops in northeastern Turkey.
Therefore, the current implementation of the project aims to shape a new geopolitical landscape. As the Turkish newspaper "Aydınlık" believes, this development also indicates that significant events are brewing in the region, "which may be accompanied by tensions or even a new Caucasus war."
This project could evolve into a strategic encirclement of Russia, Iran, and even Turkey. Baku's efforts to diversify its foreign relations and strengthen its ties with Tel Aviv (not just with Ankara) to take a place in this new "Great Game" is no coincidence. Most importantly, do not end up in a minefield.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7535418933193556480/
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